Balloon.



R. C. TILGHMAN..

BALLOON.

APPLIGATION FILED 13301909.

SHEETS-r .Lin N R. TILGHMAN.

BALLOON.

APPLGTION FILED DEG.28.1908.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ROMULUS C. "DILGI'IIVIAN, 0F ANACOSTIA, DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA.

BALLOON.

Toiall whom it muy concern:

Y MAN, a citizen of the United States,

' of parts as will be hereinafter Be it known that I, RoMULUs` C. TILGH- residing at Anacostia, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvef ments in Balloons; and l do lhereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the inventlon, such as will enable others skilled iii the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in aerial navigating apparatus, and more particularly to such as are provided with sustaining gas containers.

The object in view is the provision of means for causing the gas bag, whensthe gas is suddenly or otherwise exhausted, to perform the functions of the sheet of a parachute, and a further resultant object is the provision of means for causing the balloon to transform itself into a parachute immediatelyl upon exhaustion of the sustaining gas.

With these and vfurther objects in view, the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements fully describedand claimed. l

In the accompanying drawings, Figure A1 is a View in side elevation of a balloon embodying the features of the present inven` tion. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, vertical, central section through the gas lang and surrounding parts. Fig. 3 is anfenlarged, de-

tail perspective viewof the'cable tightening device. Fig. -l is a transverse., vertical section taken on the plane 'indicated by line 4, 4 of Fig. Q. Fig. is an enlarged, detailvertical section taken longitudinally through a fragment of one end of a modified form of the gas bag and surrounding parts.

It isquite common to utilize a parachute for purposes of descent from a balloon, but when the gas bag suddenlyeollapses, the operator usually has no opportunity tov free his parachute and fatal results follow.

The present invention is designed to obviate such catastrophe, and to this end embodies means for sustaining the bag fabric in an extended condition after the exhaustion of the gas so as to present a sustaining plane during the descent of the'balloon'.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 indicates a gas bag composed of any suitable liexible fabric provided at one of lts lowermost points with a iilling tube 2. The bag Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led December 28, 1908.

Patented N ov. 9, 1909. Serial No. 469,575.

i may be of any desired shape and for the sake of illustration I have shown the same as of cylindrical or slightly longitudinallyl bag and formed of the same material as the bag, the'tube 4 lying preferably coaxial with the longitudinalaxis of the bag, and opening at the ends to the atmosphere,` the ends of the tube 4 merging into lthe ends of the bag 1. "t

Near each end ofthe bag 1 the saine is formed with an annular contracted portion 5, and within each contracted portion 5 is arranged an annular band 6, preferably of comparativel rigid material. The bands 6 are connecter together by longitudinal cables 7, in any suitable number, each cable 7 being fixed at each end to the respective band 6 by being looped through eye 8 fixed to the respective band 6, and extending therefrom, as at 11, all of the cable ends 11 converging toward and being fixed to a retaining disk 12 in any preferred manner. A shaft 13 extends longitudinally throughout the tube 1, and has its ends projecting beyond the ends-of the tube. The disk 12 is rovided with a hub 12', and a setserew 14 is passed "therethrough into engagement with the shaft 13, the hub and disk being mounted on the shaft and adjustably'fixed against longitudinal movement independently thereof by the set screw-14. The opposite ends of the cables 7 extend outwardly from the respective band 6, as at 15, 15, and converge toward and are fixed to a disk 1G, which is slidingly mounted on the shaft 13 near'the opposite end thereof from that engaged by disk 12. Spaced outwardly from the disk 16 is a disk 17 which is'lixed to the shaft 13, and bolts 18,18 are'xcd to the disk 16 and passed slidingly through disk 17 and have their outer ends engaged bv nuts 19,'50 that said nuts may be threaded along the bolts 18 for shifting the disk 16 longitudinally with respect to the shaft 13. Any suitable .L -number of bolts 18 may r be employed, and it is obvious that by t dwing thedisk 16 outwardly the cables 7 and connections may be drawn taut.

Any suitable car 20 may be suspended L 

